This is a fine show that was a mystery for a long while, glad it finally came out, as all of the final 1971 Pigpen shows are important documents. The Other Ones in August 71 are starting to get that extra oomph and spaciness that put them in Dark Star territory in 72, but aren't quite there yet until Keith joins. This one is particularly special for giving us the extremely rare Cryptical Reprise, I believe it's the only one played in 71 until Keith joined in the Fall. We also get one of the early jam sandwiches with the Uncle tossed in the middle. Also as noted is the funny trainwreck that ends Promised Land. And I love any 71 show that gives GDTRFB an extended workout on the WBYG theme at the end.

But really I wanted to write about the 24th. They seem to miscue the end of Hurts Me Too so Pig takes a little organ lead, can't think of many versions that have that. No big jams on the 24th but lots of solid playing.

The given setlist is funky; the tracks in the player correct. There used to be confusion between this and the next night, so that's probably carried over (UJB, Hurts Me Too, BioDtL & Brown-Eyed Women were played the next night, but who knows why Sing Me is listed). The correct list looks like three sets' worth of songs (which would make it the biggest show of '71), or that some of this is actually 8/24 (nah, 'cause we have the AUD), but it's just two long sets for a major, 28 song, 3¼ hr show. This was the start of a short jaunt: two shows in Chicago and one in NYC. They came back to play this ornate theater in two months for two more shows (as well as a four-nighter in '76). Nine of these songs were played the next night, all of them in better versions, except Loser & Bobby McGee.

First Set. Big Railroad is an auspicious enough opener. It's a straight/casual run through Playin', but I love Phil here. Pig is great on Mr. Charlie, as usual in '71. Oddly, on Road Trips this (somewhat undistinguished) Sugaree is stuck in with the second set songs. The next few are average '71 but, even though it was played some 58 times in '71, this is an unusually good representation of Me & Bobby McGee. Right at the beginning of Cumberland the tempo unexpectedly accelerates, and the beat goes askew through Big Boss Man. This Loser-SS however is crystalline, with everybody adding their skillz. Promised Land barely avoids a trainwreck, but even though it falls apart Phil's a madman on the eighth notes. That may be why this was the last one until it was brought back for E72 w/Keith. China Cat>Rider is an absolute monster - so smooth. Bobby announces the set break, wanting that peak to leave 'em happy, but Jer is excited and wants another. It doesn't matter because Casey Jones works the same! Again Bobby, Phil, Billy - all amazing (the beginning is cut and there's no AUD).

Second Set. Truckin' is kinda funky but the tempo goes all over the place, slowing and then increasing. This is a solid Bird Song, but it was dropped after this until awhile after Keith joined, thus ending the early arrangement. The Other One suite starts with a Cryptical (not all from summer '71 do), and after the Drums it quickly breaks into a jam. It's very standard '71, though the tranny into Me & My Uncle is cool. This song is cut near the end; the official release uses the end from 7/31 (starting @2:31). It's interesting that when they come back to Other One, it's not just briefly. It's like an Uncle straight into a Space, with the 2nd TOO verse tacked on (the return to the venue on 10/22 features maybe the best TOO of '71). This is the return of the post-TOO Cryptical - the first since 12/28/70. Wharf Rat ends a nice 45min sequence. There's a Deal, a short break/tuning, and then comes a whole mini-set starting with Brokedown. This ain't bad, but the next night is the gold standard. The rest is average to below average '71.

1st Set:  B-
2nd Set: C
Overall = 3 stars

Highlights:
Me & Bobby McGee - a finer example
Loser - crystalline and everybody adds
China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider - monster of a version
Casey Jones - one of several vying for top '71

8/24/71. The next night is a four-star show with A+ versions of St. Stephen>Not Fade>GDtRFB & Brokedown (uptempo, full vox). It has the first ever Brown Eyed Women (different arrangement, Pig sings it, uptempo, no Tumble Down bridge) and the first of two Empty Pages, along with average fare.

SOURCES: The two summer '71 Chicago shows were unknowns until Dick's 35 in '05, Road Trips in '08, and this miller SBD, finally, in 2013. The AUD wasn't well-circulated. It's a partial AUD and pitched fast. Because it tacks on Empty Pages, which we know is from the next night, clearly some of 8/24 was taped. Eleven songs are on Road Trips 1-3 (the Me & My Uncle is a patched version).

Hot jams! A good '71 show.

This is the next available Chicago show after the slate of available 69s: 25-26 April and 4-5 July. I couldn't find audio for 31-1 January/February and can't find audio for the one 1970 Chicago show, played on Black Friday, 27 November. What a difference a couple years in GD history makes, wow!

Some confusion on dates and lists, but this show and setlist is indeed 8/23/71. (It is not 8/24, as I've occasionally seen it listed as, which is featured, entire, on Dick's Picks Vol. 35, together with 8/7 from San Diego.) Much of the show is featured on the Summer '71 Road Trips Vol. 1 No. 3, Disc 2, which includes (from set 1) China->Rider and Sugaree and (from set 2) Truckin', Cryptical->drums->o1->me and my uncle->o1->cryprical->wharf rat-, and sugar magnolia. (Disc 1, for those keeping track, features material from New Haven, 7/31, and the "bonus" 3rd disc is from Hollywood CA and San Pedro, respectively played on 8/6 and 8/4.)

This show is fantastic. There's of course some bitter irony -- Dylan M. alludes to this -- "the boys" sound so fresh and alive during this show and the summer of '71, at precisely the time Pig Pen's regular standing in the band was being phased out. He would finish out the tour (he's there on 8/24 and 8/26), take a four-month hiatus, returning in December 1971 until June '72, after which he officially retired (last show, 6/17). So the next night, 8/24, would be his final Chicago show. He led vocals on strong versions of It Hurts Me Too, Empty Pages, Big Boss Man, and Good Lovin' and on 8/23 he led on Mr. Charlie, Next Time You See Me, and Big Boss Man. It's nice to hear him backing up on NFA, too.

Back to the music: Phil is popping off on lead-bass all show and most of these songs absolutely bounce. 8/24/71 is also fantastic, must-listen '71 dead. I can't find a copy in the archive, but fortunately it's widely available and featured, entire, on Dick's Picks Vol. 35. Show highlights include song debuts of Brown Eyed Women (neat, different, early pilot version) and Empty Pages (new, unfortunately little played Pig Pen tune, would only be played one more time a couple nights later), the high-energy NFA->GDTRFB->NFA medley, and the nearly 12-minute Good Lovin' to close. Four stars for what we get from 8/24 as the "salvageable" parts lack any deep jams. 5 stars for the evening prior, I'd say perhaps on the strength of the night's cryptical suite ending with wharf rat, alone.

Someone who was at this show said Jerry played a Telecaster on this night.

Highlights: The Other One, Cryptical Envelopment

8/24 has the killer BEW. Pigpen tunes are tight and a nice Brokedown and Bobby McGee. nowhere else to comment

Great transfer and performance.

Though 71' was getting the basics in order for the boys, trying out tons of new material (Bird Song, Deal, Playin', Wharf Rat) and refining standards well into rotation (Big Railroad, China -> Rider, Casey Jones, Cumberland), this show smokes like most of Summer 71'.

The Cryptical-> Uncle suite is right up there with the more famous Hollywood Bowl rendition (though Bob batches the end of Uncle, which Jer smooths out right back into Other 1 Jam) China -> Rider is much more developed than earlier in the year.

This is the last tour with Pig before his hiatus for most of the rest of 71'. This show he Only pops out for a few numbers (Mr. Charlie, Big Boss Man, Next Time..). This is the Grateful Dead (sadly) phasing out of Pig's influence. His best performances of Summer 71' were certainly the Hollywood Bowl shows and next year at the Academy of Music and his finale Europe 72' rave-ups.

Great to have this. Thanks CM.

Sounds great, great energy. Love it.

great show.

deadlists: "this show is usually listed on tapes and in Deadbase as 8/24/71. But, according to Dwight Holmes the circulating aud tapes for this show were made by Stephen Wade, who says that he only taped the first show (8/23) and not the second (8/24). Additional evidence from Jeff Tiedrich also indicates that this is 8/23 and not 8/24."

"All that was salvageable" from 8/24 was released on Dick's Picks 35.